Juneau seeks to annex land already sought by Petersburg

A map showing the area the City and Borough of Juneau has requested to annex. The current borough boundaries are shown in green, and the area sought in red. Petersburg is seeking some of the same property Juneau is as that city prepares to form its own borough. the matter is now before the Local Boundary Commission, which is seeking comment on the matter through June 28. (Image courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

Juneau has filed to annex 1,977 square miles of territory south of the borough, challenging a similar request from the new Petersburg Borough. Of that, 447 square miles is water.

Juneau’s annexation proposal seeks to add the watersheds of the Tracy and Endicott Arms, Dawes Glacier and Windham and Hobart Bays and Port Houghton to Juneau.

Some of that area, such as Hobart Bay, where Juneau’s Goldbelt Native corporation owns substantial holdings, is among the areas sought by Petersburg.

Petersburg last year began its own annexation effort, filing with the state’s Local Boundary Commission to take everything between the city and the southern boundary of the City and Borough into its new borough.

That set off concerns among Juneau leaders, who had long eyed much of that area as a future part of Juneau.

Earlier this year the LBC staff sided largely with Petersburg, though it did acknowledge Juneau had a stronger claim to Tracy Arm than did Petersburg.

Juneau and fellow Petersburg neighbors Kupreanof and Kake objected to the LBC staff recommendation as well.

The LBC will take public comments on Juneau’s annexation request until June 29. They may be made in writing or by email to LBC@alaska.gov